The Common Man’s

Guide to Sustainable
Urban Drainage Systems
(SuDS)

Floating Wetlands
 What is SuDS?

*Image credit susdrain via Flickr

SuDS is an approach to reap

maximum benefit from surface water
runoff while reducing the negative
impacts. This is achieved through a
sequence of techniques (harvesting,
storing, infiltrating, slowing, conveying
and treating) that together form a
management train, mimicking natural
cycle.
 What is a wetland?

*Image credit susdrain via Flickr

A wetland is a pond or a marshy area

that support aquatic vegetation to
provide storage and treatment of
surface water runoff – provided at the
last stage of the SuDS management
train.
 What is a floating wetland?

*Image credit Adam via Flickr

A floating wetland is an island that

allow aquatic vegetation to grow in
waters that are too deep for them
such as inside a pond or lake. These
are artificially built and anchored to
place. The roots grow down into the
water, taking up contaminants and
nutrients.
 What are the benefits?

• Water quality improvement

• Reduced algae blooms and
weeds
• Habitat for wildlife
• Aesthetically pleasing
• Environmental awareness
• Provide shoreline protection
• Reduce water temperature

*Image by Herbert Aust from Pixabay

 What are the advantages?

• Minimal cost, no land

acquisition.
• Easy to build and maintain
• Attractive water feature
• Opportunity for upcycling

What are the disadvantages?

• Low impact on very large

volume
• Require longer period
*Image credit Prashant Ram from Flickr
 Sizing

An approximate size of the floating

wetland may be deduced from the
required removal rates,

For 10% pond coverage:

Total Nitrogen Removal – 0.8%
Total Phosphorous Removal – 1.6%
Total Suspended Solids – 2.3%

A minimum of 10% coverage is

recommended, but never more than
50%.
 Planning

A floating wetland is constructed in

layers and at varying levels, with
designs varying based on
requirements. It should be deployed in
enclosed ponds and never in open
water, for water quality benefit.

Designs can vary depending upon

shade area required, habitat levels,
structural capacity and aesthetics.
Shade area – depending on the
required water temperature, design
might have to provide gentle or full
shade coverage.
Habitat levels – to mimic nearshore
habitat levels, designs should include
multiple vegetated levels – submerged
/ shoreline. This can provide diverse
food and shelter options for aquatic
life and strong anchoring near
shoreline with rich biodiversity.
Structural – Different elements like
used PET bottles, tyre, Styrofoam,
bamboo, PVC or HDPE pipes,
engineered platform and aluminum
frame may be used for construction
depending on load, buoyancy and
durability.
Tyre
PET Bottle

PVC Pipe
`
`

Foam
 Construction

Floating wetlands can be constructed

as modular units, like in a
checkerboard pattern or hexagon,
each unit connected with each other
to form larger installations.
Varying designs using wooden logs
and floating recycled materials can
also be used for this purpose. An
easier small floating garden can be
created from even a used rubber tyre.
Construction of a typical design will
include the following components.
Frame – Bamboo, PVC/HDPE pipe, or
aluminum may be used to build frame
of a selected shape (honeycomb,
checkerboard etc)
 Construction

Floatation – Materials to provide

buoyancy to the unit, that may be
achieved through engineered
materials, foam, buckets, PET bottles,
etc. The frame itself can provide
floatation to the unit, like if a capped
PVC frame is used.
Anchor – The frame should be
anchored – a fixed pole, anchor to
shoreline or anchor to bed.
Base layer – A base layer to provide
structural stability to the frame.
Capped bamboo poles can be used to
weave a check pattern and are a
cheap and easier option
Mid layer – A net layer shall be laid
above the base layer to support the
medium for planting. This could be a
twine netting, chicken mesh or welded
mesh, based on structural
requirements.
Medium – The medium should
support the planting of vegetation and
could be made from coconut coir, coir
mat, dried hyacinth or engineered
medium, that can support soil and
plantation.

Medium
Mid Layer

Base Layer

Floatation
Anchor
 Planting

A density of 2 plugs per square foot is

optimum. Vegetation should be
initially protected from waterfowl if
required. Planting should be
undertaken based on different levels
of vegetation.
Shoreline – Plants or trees on the
shore that can provide shade and
bring down water temperature.
Emergent areas – Plants that have
roots under water, but shoots grow
up above the water.
E.g. Acorus calamus (Sweet flag),
Aeschynomene aspera (Sola), Bacopa
monnieri (Brahmi), Eleocharis spiralis,
Hydrocera trifloral, Limnocharis flava,
Limnophila aromatica, L. heterophyll,
Monochoria vaginalis, Aponogeton
natans, Nelumbo nucifera,
Potomogeton nodosus, Sagittaria
guayanensis, Geissaspis cristata,
Ipomoea aquatica, Ludwigia
adscendens, L. sedoides, Neptunia
prostata, Trapa maximowiczii
Submerged – Plants completely below
the water surface.
E.g. Aponogeton appendiculatus,
Blyxa auberii (bamboo plant),
Cabomba caroliniana, Ottelia
alismoides, Vallisnaria natans,
Ceratophyllum demersum, Eriocaulon
setaceum, Hydrilla verticillate,
Utricularia aurea.
Floating areas – Plants that live on
the surface of water.
E.g. Hygroryza aristate, Lemna
perpusilla, Pistia stratiotes, Spirodela
polyrhiza,

Planting diverse vegetation will

provide resilience and biodiversity.
Select native species to avoid
spreading invasive species.
 Maintenance

Floating wetlands require very little

maintenance.
Wetlands may require weeding to
avoid invasive species.
A portion of the wetland should be
thinned at the end of the growing
season to prevent overgrowth.
The float should be retrievable for
maintenance or accessible by a boat.
 Disclaimer

Although the author have made every

effort to ensure that the information in
this book was correct, the author do
not assume and hereby disclaim any
liability to any party for any loss,
damage, or disruption caused by
errors or omissions, whether such
errors or omissions result from
negligence, accident, or any other
cause.

© 2019 Anish Cletus

All rights reserved. No portion of this
book may be reproduced in any form
without permission from the author.
 About the author

Anish Cletus is an Incorporated

Engineer (IEng, MICE, UK) with 18
years of experience in the water
industry. He has a passionate curiosity
for learning and to inspire the next
generation of civil engineers.